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Eight Wilmington Island Residents Exposed To Rabies

At least eight people have been exposed to rabies after a feral kitten that was being fed by several Wilmington Park residents tested positive for the disease.
Those exposed have been advised to contact their health care providers, said Sally Silbermann, spokeswoman for the Coastal Health District.
It’s possible the kitten got rabies after being exposed to a potentially rabid raccoon, she said.
Savannah-Chatham Animal Control is attempting to capture the raccoon along with as many as six other cats in the same Wilmington Island neighborhood that may have been exposed to the rabid kitten, Silbermann said.
The health department and animal control want to remind residents to always avoid contact with wild or stray animals, watch for unusual behavior in pets and wildlife and get pets vaccinated against rabies.
Animal Control officers are advising anyone in the area that had such contact with the kitten, a raccoon or other animal, to contact them.
Rabies is a potentially deadly virus that is primarily spread by infected animals. Symptoms of rabies in animals include a change in behavior, biting, aggression, showing no fear of natural enemies (such as humans), foaming at the mouth, and paralysis.
The Chatham County Health Department Environmental Health Division offers these tips to protect you and your family from rabies:
• Avoid contact with animals you don’t know.
• Make sure your pets receive the proper immunizations. Dogs and cats should get rabies vaccines by four months of age, followed by a booster shot one year later, and another one every one to three years as prescribed by your veterinarian.
• Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or by leaving pet food out at night.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control or a properly licensed animal rescue agency for assistance.
• Teach children to never handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. “Love your own, leave other animals alone” is a good principle for children to learn.
If an animal ever bites you, seek medical care immediately and contact Savannah-Chatham Animal Control at 912-525-2408 and the Chatham County Health Department Environmental Health Division at 912-356-2160.